ST. LOUIS - The Billikens defeated the Northern Illinois Huskies for the second time in two days to extend their current winning streak to seven games. The final score was 4-1, advancing the Bills' record to 13-5 on the year and a perfect 5-0 at home. Senior LHP Jim Foster picked up the win in relief, going two innings of shutout baseball with three strikeouts and no baserunners allowed.
Saint Louis was down early, when the Huskies led off the third inning with a triple from Alex Beckmann, who later scored. However, in the fifth, the Bills got to NIU starter Eli Anderson. Junior Jordan Hammerman led off with a single. Senior Connor Gandossy singled the next at-bat to put runners at first and second. Anderson then threw a wild pitch, advancing Hammerman to third. Freshman Alec Sole rose to the occasion, knocking a single through the right side to score a run. Junior Mike Levine drew a walk the next at-bat to load the bases for Marco DiRoma with one away. DiRoma hit a slow roller to first that resulted in an out, but also drove Gandossy across the plate, giving SLU a 2-1 lead.
Gandossy led off the seventh with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Sole. DiRoma drove him in with a double down the right field line. DiRoma scored on a single from junior Alex Kelly, bringing the score to 4-1, where it stayed the rest of the game.
Senior RHP Travis Parker shut the door for the Billikens, hurling 1.2 innings with two punchouts, one hit and one walk. The save was Parker's second of the season.
DiRoma went 1-for-4 on the day, and drove in two runs, while scoring one himself. The hit brings his hitting streak to eight games, a team and personal best. Junior OF Steve Fernandez drew a walk, bringing his on-base streak to nine games.
Next up for the Bills will be the Leathernecks of Western Illinois on Friday, Mar. 16 at 2:00 p.m. Saint Louis will be hosting a tournament this weekend with Western Illinois, Air Force and Tennessee - Martin participating. Games will be at Noon and 2:00 p.m. on March 16-17 and 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Mar. 18. The Billikens will play the second game on each day.
